Turnabout Intruder marks an interesting final episode for Gene Roddenberry's landmark TV show. It's not only the last episode of the three season show, it also explores more of Captain Kirk's (William Shatner) backstory, and in many ways, it's one of the earliest examples of a transgender examination on American TV. Caitlyn Jenner's favorite TOS episode? Perhaps....
It has been criticized for a too convenient or unbelievable motivation on the part of the antagonist, and far more negatively, for a less than subdued or subtle performance from Shatner. Ultimately, this seems unfair. When remembering filmed performances where a gender is 'bent' includes such broad, early examples as Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in the classic comedy,
Some Like It Hot, or the British Benny Hill or comic troupe of Monty Python's many drag drenched skits, Shatner's choices can be understood, if not wholly embraced by the more demanding fan.
When taken in full context and considering a still embryonic and less sophisticated discussion of sexually exotic topics of the era, especially on American television, the episode can be viewed as a roughly hewn landmark
While on planet Camus II, Dr. Janice Lester, an old flame from Kirk's past, uses alien technology to 'body swap' her mind and consciousness into his male body. Now, the Starfleet Captain is trapped in a female body and must convince those around him that he's actually the male starship commander. It all plays as far fetched space opera, soapy drama and incredible science fiction, however, the notion of being trapped in another body hits home in an authentic way for the transgender community. Many transgender people do talk about having that same struggle - revealing them thinking and feeling as one gender, but having to inhabit and live in the world as the opposite gender physically.
